Many applicants wish to make plans for the future as soon as possible. For these prospective students, we offer Early Notification with a deadline of January 1. Our regular deadline is March 1. Financial support in various forms of tuition assistance are available for both deadlines.

Click on each of the following steps for detailed instructions. All materials—online application and fee, letters of recommendation, and supplemental materials including score report(s) and transcript(s)—are due by the application deadline.

1. Take Standardized Exam

GRE

Required for all MA applicants exempt from taking the TOEFL or IELTS.
Scores cannot be more than 5 years old.
No minimum score required; the GRE is one of many factors considered in admissions.

– or –

TOEFL or IELTS

Required for most applicants whose first language is not English; see UHM Graduate Division policy on English Proficiency. Applicants who are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS are exempt from taking the GRE.
Scores cannot be more than 2 years old.
Minimum scores required for admissions and consideration for graduate assistantship.

TOEFL iBT

TOEFL PBT

IELTS

Minimum for Admissions

100

600

7.0

SLS Preferred Minimum

105

620

7.5

Minimum for Graduate Teaching Assistantship

100
(25 L / 25 S)

600

7.0

2. Prepare Supplemental Materials

All supplemental materials are due by the application deadline.

i. Statement of Purpose
In a maximum of 1,000 words, outline your academic and professional objectives and reasons for applying to the MA in Second Language Studies. Describe your experience with languages, language learning, and professional contexts that involved various forms of language expertise, and connect these to your long-term goals as a language professional.

iv. Unofficial Score Report
An unofficial score report for the GRE or TOEFL (or IELTS) is required at the time of application.Note. Admitted students are required to submit official score reports in order to enroll. If you wish to submit official scores at the time of application (this is not required), please refer to the instructions to Submit Official Test Score Report under the Document Requirements for Admitted Students section.

v. Unofficial Transcript(s)
One transcript is required from each postsecondary institution attended, including any study abroad or exchange programs, summer programs, and non-degree work and extension programs.Note. Admitted students are required to submit official transcripts in order to enroll. If you wish to submit official transcripts at the time of application (this is not required), please refer to the instructions to Submit Official Transcript(s) under the Document Requirements for Admitted Students section.

vi. (OPTIONAL) Writing Sample
The writing sample is optional. It can be a research paper, thesis, or publication.

3. Submit Online Application and $100 Application Fee

Apply online by first creating a Login ID and PIN. Remember your Login ID and PIN for steps 4 and 5.

Request letters from three individuals who know you in an academic setting. Generally, letters from employers in nonacademic settings do not provide perspectives on your academic abilities. Ideally, at least one reference should relate to your stated areas of interest, and all letters should be recent. Use of official university or institutional letterhead is preferred.

For expediency, please use the following naming convention, including the numerals in the file names:
1_LastnameFirstname_SOP.pdf
2_LastnameFirstname_SuppInfo.pdf
3_LastnameFirstname_Resume.pdf or 3_LastnameFirstname_CV.pdf
4_LastnameFirstname_GRE or 4_LastnameFirstname_TOEFL
5_LastnameFirstname_Transcript.pdf

Document Requirements for Admitted Students

Click on each of the following steps for detailed instructions.

1. Submit Statement of Intention to Register to Graduate Division

Once admitted, students will receive an official letter of admittance from Graduate Division (via postal mail). Admitted students are asked to respond with their Statement of Intention to Register (SIR) to gradsir@hawaii.edu as soon as possible after receiving the official letter, so that they can access the University’s services in a timely manner.

2. Submit Official Test Score Report

Admitted students are required to submit official standardized exam scores in order to enroll. Official score reports must be sent directly to Graduate Division. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) code for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is 4867. Remember that GRE scores cannot be more than five years old, and TOEFL and IELTS scores cannot be more than 2 years old.

3. Submit Official Transcript(s)

Admitted students are required to submit official transcripts in order to enroll. Official transcripts must be sent directly to Graduate Division from the issuing institution(s), or in sealed institutional envelopes if submitted with the application.

International applicants need to show proof of sufficient funding to cover all educational and living expenses for a 9-month budget, including expenses for any accompanying spouse or children. Upon admission to UHM, only international applicants with proof of funding will receive visa documents.
Be sure to complete the Confidential Financial Statement for International Applicants as soon as possible to avoid delays in applying for your student visa.